Ride the CC Loop

Nothing to do with today’s ride, other than that building once housed a Western Auto where the bicycle for today’s the ride was purchased in 1975.

Also shown is our one and only wall mural that was destroyed when the building partially collapsed and then was razed.

When WA disintegrated it became a Radio Shack which in turn disintegrated (more ways than one!)

So, today met up with former colleague Dave and he suggested we do the CC ride.

The CC Loop is an abbreviation for a ~7 mile ride around 2 Township Sections to the east of town and back. Since it goes by the Conservation Club we call it CC for short. Temperatures just at freezing, and little wind encouraged us to do a little longer route today. Temperatures have been below normal for some time but not low enough to freeze the water.

Photo is a view east along the North Fork of the Vermilion River along County Road 1700E

Western Flyer and Dave’s Trek at an amazingly graffiti-free bridge.

Moderate fog that increased throughout the day.

Dave has had some severe back/leg issues that for now seem to be remediated and this is his longest ride in quite some time — do, but don’t over-do.

Very much enjoy all the entries you all have provided -- great to see the everyday cycling venues.
Being in eastern Illinois, scenery certainly isn't our forte, but oh well, the roads are normally quiet.
Look forward to more and more entries from all of you, I do have a few over on BL -- in Bill's Day Rides, and one journal.

Very likely they were — Huffy and Murray-Ohio, among others, made lots of bicycles for Western Auto.
This Western Flyer is believed to have been made by American Machine and Foundry (AMF) based on the frame design and other components seen on AMF branded bicycles.

Good for you to get out in the cold! And good for you to ensure your friend did onto ‘over-do’. Looks like a nice ride along the unfrozen river.
You bring memories to probably all of us. My first bike was a JC Higgins, which I think was a Sears brand. My dad brought in home in his car trunk the day after I learned to ride a bike! It was his carrot for me to learn to ride, and he followed through with the promise of a brand new bike ;’-).

Im sure we all remember our first bicycle 🙂
That might be an interesting thread on the Forums — first bicycle and first solo ride. Very wobbly for me and it did involve a crash. 😉

Not a bad ride in mid December — for here anyway.
Before WW 2 Sears sold bicycles under the Elgin brand, after that, J C Higgins — who happened to be a real person working for Sears — I always wondered who J C was!
Lots of info and photos of old bicycles here —–> https://thecabe.com/

It was good that you could get out. It always feels so good to turn the pedals after any time off the bike. You are really supportive of your friend – glad he is back out there. My fingers felt cold looking at those photos, though!

The atmosphere in your pictures reminded me of riding in winter in the UK. It was always difficult keeping my fingers warm enough to enable me to competently complete the paper round on days like that. Really quite cold!!

Those were the days, delivering newspapers — many a winter night, my original Western Flyer and I came back just short of frostbite. (Learned the hard way, soaking fingers in hot water is NOT the way to re-warm them!)
Now they are delivered in an SUV and thrown in the general direction of the house.